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KEN FIDLIN, QMI Agency

May 23, 2011

, Last Updated: 10:34 PM ET

Adam Lind is slowly moving toward a return to the Blue Jays, as he tries to overcome lower back soreness.

“(Sunday) he took 50 swings and ran in the pool for an additional 20 minutes,” said manager John Farrell. Baseball activities will continue to increase. Everything points to him getting some DH at-bats Wednesday in extended spring training.

“At that point, we’ll determine how many more at-bats he’ll need and how he’s responding to the added intensity in games.

“(The pain) has become much more tolerable and continues to decrease. So he’s making progress. What we have to do is continue to ramp up the intensity and the volume to be sure there’s not any recurrence, then get him into games and ultimately back with us.”

Even when he comes back, the Jays will be careful about how much he plays in the field.

There is no set timetable but Farrell expects Lind’s return during the next homestand.

“Once he comes back we’ll continue to use Juan (Rivera) at first base to be sure we gradually build the innings played for Adam.”

Perez promoted

With Carlos Villanueva moving to the starting rotation, at least temporarily, lefty Luis Perez was recalled from Las Vegas for his second stint in the bigs.

“When we took a valuable pitcher out of our bullpen, we felt we needed a guy who can go multiple innings down there,” said Farrell. “(Perez’s) last two outings he’s gone seven and eight innings, so he’s fully stretched out. What is most impressive were the two outings he had earlier in Boston.”

Perez was called up in April.

His airness

To make room for Perez, baseball’s most frequent flyer, Mike McCoy, was back on a jet to Las Vegas for the fourth time this season.

“He’s been a pro about it,” said Farrell, acknowledging McCoy has drawn some tough duty.

“He understands the role he’s in. He understands we’ve had some injury situations and he’s fully respectful of it and we are fully respectful of him. He’s been a true professional.”